The Afghanistan national cricket team secured a thrilling 31-run victory over Sri Lanka in a high-stakes T20 international clash at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening. With a target of 186 set by Afghanistan, Sri Lanka fell short at 154 all out in 19.3 overs, despite a valiant effort from captain Dasun Shanaka, who scored 46 runs off 28 balls. Afghanistan’s innings was anchored by a blistering 74 off 47 balls from Hazratullah Zazai, supported by contributions from Ibrahim Zadran (32) and Najibullah Zadran (26). The match, part of the ongoing three-match T20I series, saw Afghanistan take a 1-0 lead with one match remaining. The victory marks Afghanistan’s continued rise in the T20 rankings, while Sri Lanka faces a crucial test in the final match to level the series.
Afghanistan Secures Narrow Victory Over Sri Lanka in T20 Thriller
Afghanistan secured a narrow victory over Sri Lanka in a thrilling T20 encounter, winning by 31 runs. The match, played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, saw Afghanistan post a competitive total of 165/7 in their 20 overs. Sri Lanka, in response, fell short at 134 all out, despite a valiant effort from their middle order.
Afghanistan’s innings was anchored by a brisk 45 off 32 balls from captain Asghar Afghan. The wicketkeeper-batter provided stability to the innings, allowing the lower order to accelerate the scoring in the final overs. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, led by Lasith Malinga, struggled to contain the Afghan batsmen, conceding 165 runs.
In reply, Sri Lanka’s top order faltered against Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling attack. Only Kusal Perera (38) and Angelo Mathews (32) offered resistance, but their efforts were not enough to steer Sri Lanka to victory. Afghanistan’s spinners, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan, were the pick of the bowlers, sharing six wickets between them.
Afghanistan’s victory marks their second consecutive win over Sri Lanka in T20 internationals. The result also sees Afghanistan move up to third in the ICC T20 rankings, while Sri Lanka drops to fifth. The next T20 match between the two teams is scheduled for 25 February, also at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Match Summary: Afghanistan's Bowlers Restrict Sri Lanka to 148
Afghanistan secured a 31-run victory over Sri Lanka in a thrilling T20 clash at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The Afghan bowlers put up a spirited performance, restricting Sri Lanka to 148 runs in 19.3 overs. Afghanistan had earlier posted a competitive total of 179 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs.
Rashid Khan was the star performer for Afghanistan, taking 3 wickets for just 12 runs in his 4 overs. His exceptional bowling, coupled with tight spells from Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, made it difficult for the Sri Lankan batsmen to score freely. The Afghan bowlers maintained a strong line and length, exploiting the conditions effectively.
Sri Lanka’s innings got off to a shaky start, losing wickets at regular intervals. Only Kusal Perera and Angelo Mathews offered some resistance with a 47-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, their efforts were not enough to chase down the target set by Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s victory was built on a solid batting performance in the first innings. Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani provided a fiery start, scoring 46 runs off just 25 balls. Despite a middle-order collapse, Afghanistan managed to post a challenging total, thanks to a crucial 54-run partnership between Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran.
Chasing 179, Sri Lanka Falls Short in Final Overs
Afghanistan secured a thrilling 31-run victory over Sri Lanka in a high-stakes T20 match. The Afghan innings closed at 179 runs, with Hazratullah Zazai top-scoring with a blistering 61 off 35 balls. Sri Lanka’s chase faltered in the final overs, despite a valiant effort from captain Dasun Shanaka, who scored 48 runs.
Afghanistan’s bowling attack proved decisive, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan sharing five wickets between them. Mujeeb dismissed Sri Lanka’s dangerous opener, Pathum Nissanka, early in the innings, setting the tone for Afghanistan’s dominant bowling performance. Rashid Khan then took crucial wickets in the death overs, including that of Shanaka, to seal the victory.
Sri Lanka’s innings began brightly, with openers Kusal Perera and Nissanka putting on a quick 40-run partnership. However, regular wickets after Nissanka’s dismissal disrupted Sri Lanka’s momentum. Shanaka’s late flurry of runs kept Sri Lanka in the hunt, but ultimately, their chase fell short.
Afghanistan’s victory marks a significant milestone in their T20 campaign, demonstrating their growing prowess in the format. The match was a testament to Afghanistan’s all-round skills, with both bat and ball delivering when it mattered most. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will look to regroup and address their middle-order struggles in their upcoming fixtures.
Afghanistan's Middle Order Steers Team to Competitive Total
Afghanistan secured a thrilling 31-run victory over Sri Lanka in a high-stakes T20 clash. The Afghan middle order, led by Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib, steered the team to a competitive total of 167/7 in their 20 overs. Nabi top-scored with 42 runs off 31 balls, while Naib contributed a crucial 38 off 24 deliveries.
Sri Lanka’s chase began promisingly, with openers Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando putting on 44 runs in the powerplay. However, Afghanistan’s bowlers struck back, with Naveen-ul-Haq and Karim Janat taking two wickets each to restrict Sri Lanka to 136 all out in 19.3 overs.
Afghanistan’s victory was built on a solid foundation laid by their top-order batsmen. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai provided a rapid start, scoring 31 runs in the first three overs. Despite early wickets, the middle order batsmen capitalised on the momentum, ensuring Afghanistan reached a defendable total.
Sri Lanka’s innings faltered after the dismissal of their key batsmen. Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga tried to stabilise the innings, but Afghanistan’s bowlers maintained pressure, taking regular wickets. The match ended when Hasaranga was bowled by Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the 20th over.
Afghanistan’s captain, Asghar Afghan, praised his team’s performance. “Our middle order showed great composure under pressure,” he said. “The bowlers executed their plans well, and we’re happy with the result.” The victory marks Afghanistan’s third consecutive win in the T20 series against Sri Lanka.
T20 Standings: Afghanistan Climbs, Sri Lanka Drops After Loss
Afghanistan secured a thrilling 31-run victory over Sri Lanka in their T20 international clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Afghan team posted a competitive total of 189/4 in their 20 overs, with Hazratullah Zazai smashing an unbeaten 91 off 47 balls. In response, Sri Lanka fell short, scoring 158/9 in their allotted overs.
The Afghan innings was built on a solid foundation by openers Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani, who put on 102 runs for the first wicket. Zazai’s blistering knock included eight sixes and six fours, while Ghani contributed a quickfire 31 off 22 balls. The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to contain the Afghan batsmen, with only Wanindu Hasaranga managing to pick up two wickets.
Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a disastrous start, losing three wickets in the first five overs. Despite a fighting 68 from Pathum Nissanka, the Lankan batsmen failed to build significant partnerships. Afghanistan’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings, with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman picking up two wickets each.
The result sees Afghanistan climb to fifth place in the T20 standings, while Sri Lanka drops to seventh. Afghanistan’s victory is their third consecutive win in T20 internationals, while Sri Lanka has now lost two matches in a row. The Afghan team’s next match is against Pakistan on 28th February, while Sri Lanka will face India on the same day.
Afghanistan’s victory over Sri Lanka by 31 runs in their T20 clash marked a significant moment in international cricket. The win highlighted Afghanistan’s growing prowess in the shortest format, with their bowlers delivering a clinical performance to defend a modest total. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be disappointed with their batting collapse, but the match served as a reminder of the competitive nature of modern cricket. Both teams will now focus on their upcoming fixtures, with Afghanistan aiming to build on this momentum and Sri Lanka looking to regroup ahead of their next challenge.
